Motorcycle dealers scramble to keep up with demand

Rising gas prices have motivated many consumers to drive vehicles that have two wheels instead of four.

Steve Tarter

Rising gas prices have motivated many consumers to drive vehicles that have two wheels instead of four.

The local market reflects that trend.

While area car lots may be overflowing with SUVs and other gas guzzlers, central Illinois motorcycle dealers are scrambling to meet demand.

“Inventory ran out for all the companies (that make) motor scooters earlier this year. We’re waiting on the 2009 models,” said Robin Cupi, manager of Cupi’s Motor Mall in North Pekin.

It isn’t just motor scooters that are hard to find. “When it comes to the Ninja 250 by Kawasaki, one of the most popular smaller motorcycles, we’re sold out for the year,” said Sherry Hayes, president of Grayboy Motor Sports.

It isn’t just the lure of the open road that’s putting more people on bikes. Customers want to save gas, said area dealers, citing mileage claims of 50 to 60 miles a gallon on many lightweight bikes and 70 to 100 miles a gallon for most motor scooters.

The motor scooter category has really taken off, said Cupi. “We’ve sold more scooters this year than any year in our (23-year) history,” he said.

“Whether it’s Honda, Yamaha or Suzuki, we haven’t been able to keep up (with demand),” said Cupi, listing the leading scooter manufacturers. “We’re out until September, when new models start coming in.”

There’s no typical scooter customer, said Cupi. “They’re all across the board. They range in age from 16 to 70,” he said.

The range in customers extends to gender. “We’re seeing more women buying scooters than before,” said Kevin Young, manager of Central Illinois Motor Sports in North Pekin.

While many dealers are completely out of merchandise, Young said there are Chinese-made SUNL scooters available at his shop, scooters that get 80 miles a gallon and sell for $1,700.

Scooter prices range up to $7,000 in price but many sell in the $3,000 range, said Cupi. “Models like the Yamaha 125 are popular because they’re big enough to reach speeds of 45 to 50 miles an hour. They can’t go on the Interstate, but they can travel on a lot of your state roads,” he said.

Along with the increase in sales, more people are signing up to take motorcycle safety classes, said Vernon Hanks, who directs the Illinois Department of Transportation training program at Illinois State University.

“We’re seeing a lot more people getting training,” said Hanks, who started teaching motorcycle safety in 1976. “We don’t have a scooter program, but people can take the motorcycle training class. I always say that you won’t be shiftless when you take our program,” he said.

Aside from learning about shifting gears on a bike, there’s another advantage for scooter drivers to take the class, said Hanks. “We have an arrangement with the Secretary of State’s office that if you complete the (motorcycle) class, they waive the test you’d otherwise take to get a Class L license (for mid-sized scooters),” he said.

Motorcyle classes are held in this area at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, said instructor Regina Grabo. “With the increase in gas prices, people have been beating our doors down,” she said.

Classes are limited to 12 but lately prospective students arrive three hours early in the off chance someone doesn’t show up, said Grabo, a part-time instructor who is inspections coordinator for Peoria County.

Another ICC instructor noted the increase in the program’s popularity. “We’ve been having to turn people away, this year, especially,” said Christine Sergison of East Peoria.

With more motorcycles on the road, safety is an important issue, said Greg Cote, a first-year instructor at ICC who works at the Peoria ag lab. “Riding a motorcycle is riskier (than driving a car). That’s why we emphasize safety,” he said.

While gas prices might be driving some to consider riding a motorcycle to work, there’s another factor, said Cote.

“It’s fun as well as economical,” he said.

Steve Tarter can be reached at (309) 686-3260 or starter@pjstar.com.

Motorcycle primer

Licensing: In Illinois, you need a valid driver’s license with a Class L classification for any motor-driven cycle with less than 150cc displacement. You need a Class M for any motorcycle greater than 150cc displacement. Note: Small-engine motor scooters under 50cc can be operated by anyone with a regular driver’s license.

Motorcycle safety: To get more information on the state’s motorcycle safety program, check out www.motorcyclesafety.ilstu.edu. There’s a $20 reservation fee for the weekend session but you can get that back upon completion of the class (most people donate it to the program).

Costs: Motor scooters range in price from $1,500 to $7,000, depending on engine size and extras. Motorcycles range from $2,000 to $20,000 and even higher.